Wheel cover



June 22,1948. Gi A LYON 2,443,625

WHEEL COVER Filed Sept. 6, 1943 Patented June 22, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE WHEEL COVER George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, N. J. Application September 6, 1943, Serial No. 501,349

Claims. 1.

This invention is directed to an improved wheel structure and relates more particularly to an improved cover assembly therefor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for a cover assembly adapted for disposition over the outer side of a wheel structure, improved retaining means for detachably securing the same to the wheel.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved cover adapted for disposition over the outer side of -a wheel structure having novel means whereby the cover cooperates both with the wheel structure and with retaining means thereon for disposition securely, yet detachably, on the wheel in correct concentric alignment therewith.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for a Wheel structure having a tire rim and a central load bearing portion, there being circumferentially spaced circularly disposed apertures along the junction between the tire rim and the body part, an improved cover annulus having integral members extending generally axially inwardly from the radially inner edge thereof for co-engagement in the respective apertures to align the cover on the wheel structure, there being resilient retaining members on the wheel structure for resiliently engaging the radially inner portion of the cover and said axially inwardly extending members for detachably retaining the cover on the wheel.

In accordance with the general features of the invention, there is provided herein a vwheel structure of the character having a tire rim of the drop center type and a central load bearing portion secured thereto, there being circumferentially spaced apertures along the junction of the tire rim and the load bearing part and resilient spring clips oi the gooseneck type secured to the wheel structure, these spring clips being circularly arranged and circumferentially spaced for alignment with the respective apertures and having a part extending thereinto which is secured to the wheel structure, and a cover assembly including a radially outer annular portion formed from synthetic plastic sheet material or the like and having characteristics enabling it to be exed locally, resiliently, whereby it will immediately snap back into its initial position upon release of flexing pressures therefrom, said cover portion having a plurality of integral, generally axially inwardly extending flanges at the radially inner part thereof, said flanges being arranged to extend into the respective apertures to bear radially against one of the wheel parts for alignment of ivo 2 the cover both radially and circumferentially, said resilient spring `clip members being arranged to engage the radially inner marginal portion of said cover part to retain the same detachably upon the Wheel structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for a wheel structure, a cover assembly having a radially outer annular portion formed from synthetic plastic sheet material or the like, said cover portion having a radially outer part flared axially outwardly and extending radially outwardly beyond the radially outer extremity of the tire rim to conceal the junction between the same and the tire therein, and further having an intermediate portion extending radially over the outer side of the tire rim and over the junction between the same and the central load bearing portion, said intermediate section being formed of a crosssectional curvature whereby it substantially simulates the curvature of the respective side wall of the tire to give the appearance of being a part thereof and to appear as a continuation thereof and further to appear as a white side wall of a massive tire mounted on a wheel structure of minimum dimensions when Colored white, said cover having integral portions arranged to interlock with the wheel structure to retain the same against movement, both radial and circumferential, with respect to the wheel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a wheel structure embodying my invention, parts being broken away for illustrative purposes;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary radial cross-sectional view of a Wheel structure such as that shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational View of my novel cover member looking radially inwardly from the outside thereof.

It will be understood that the modification shown herein is for illustrative purposes only and may be changed or modified without departing from the Ispirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The Wheel structure disclosed herein includes a tire ri-m part l0 and a central load bearing part I2, the tire rim part IU being of the drop center type and having a base flange Il to which a peripheral, axially inwardly extending skirt lZa oi the body part I2 may be welded or riveted to provide a unitary Wheel structure. As Will be seen from Figures l and 2, the ange "12a, may be depressed radially inwardly at circumferentially spaced portions to provide circumferentially spaced wheel openings 12b along the junction between the tire rim and the central load bearing part. The central load bearing part is further provided at the radially inner portion with a bolton flange i3 by means of which the wheel structure may be secured to an appropriate portion ol the vehicle such as the brake drum or the like.

The tireV` rim la: is further providedv with op posite sidewall: flanges lll, opposite intermediate flanges l and opposite edge portions I6 between which may be disposed the radially inner parts` of a tire Il having an inner tube i3. The inner tube IB may be provided with a valve stem ISl which extends generally axially outwardly through the adjacent side wall jlange ill of the tire rim and through a suitable aperture formed at the cover as shown in Figure 1.

If desired, the central. portion of the outer side of thewheel may be covered by a hub.- capsimulating, @over member 2,0, having a radially inwardly disposed, generally axially extending snap-on flange 21 terminating in a, circular snap-on bead 22. It is desirable thatv thisr cover member be removably mounted upony the wheel' structure: and to this end',I the, adjacent portion 0f the outer surface. of the central' load bearing. part. l2 is provided, With. a plurality 0i circum: ferentially spaced,l circularly disposed humps 23', having radially inwardly extending nee-.ks which dehe a Circle having a. greater diameter than that dened bv the` radially cuter extremity of the resilient circular bead; 2120i" the cox/ter member J; In applying the cover member 2li toA the wheel structure it will be seen that it is. merely necessary for the Operator ,to alien the bead 22 with the humps 23; so that it bears. against the axially outer surfaces thereof; whereupon the cover may be pressed.' inwardla. this inward. movementcausins distortion O f the bead 22 fromA its circular shape. to an out of roundl shape until the bead' slides over the peaks of the humps and rests against the, axially inwardly facing surface thereof' as ,shown Figure 2, whereupon the bead' 22 returns toits circular condition to retain the cover member. in assembled relationship with the wheel structure so that the radially outer extremity thereof bearsgagainstVv theadj a cent portion at'the outer surface of the wheel'l structure.

The cover assembly is completed by the' provision of a radially outer annular cover member 24' which is preferably constructed from sheet synthetic plastic material or the like andhas physical characteristics enabling it to vbe flexed temporarily locally` and' yet whereby itimmediately snaps back to itsk initial configuration upon release 4of flexing pressures thereircm- As will be seen from Figure 2; the annular cover member .'24k is provided withV a radiallyW outer portion 2da` which extends radially outwardly beyond the edge portion I to conceal the -junction betweenthe sameandthetire' Hf' and-is liar-ed slightly outwardly inorder toV present to the` side wall of the tire a smoothriding surface whereby the tire side wallisprotected from cutting and abrasion upon lateral expansion thereof against the cover member 2'4-durilng operationl of the vehicle underl'oad bearing conditions, The annular cover member 24- is further` provided with an intermediate portion which extends radially inwardly. over theA outer' sideof the wheel structure to a point on the outer surfaceofl the central loadjbearing part IZ andA thus beyond the junction of' that part and the tirev rim i0-, i This intermediate portion of the cover '6 is provided with a cross-sectional conguration ci such shape that it substantially simulates the contour of the outer side of the respective side wall of the tire il, thereby to give the appearance of being a continuation thereof and to appear as a part thereof and furthermore to appear as a White side wall of a massive tire mounted upon a wheel;v structure of minimumdimensions when it1 is` colored white.

To the end that the annular cover member 2Clinay be securely detachably engaged on the wheel structure, there is provided herein a plurality of spring clip members having a gooseneck congurationt these members being indicated at 25. Each of the clip members 25 is provided with an inwardly extending shank 25 which is disposed. intsurface abutment with the radially inner surface of the adjacent portion of the base flange M and is secured thereto by welding or riveting as shown at 2'. Each of the spring clips 25A is further provided with a generally, axiallyextending gooseneck portion 28, which is turned back to provide an arm 2 Q terminating in finger members llgthe arm extending generally radiallyandy axiallyl inwardly for oblique disposal and theV nngers 3Q extending generally axially inwardly, radially outwardly, for opposite oblique disposition, there being a peak 3i formed between the portions 29 andV Se;

The cover member 2li is provided at theradially inner part thereof, as best shown in Figures 2 and' 3, with generally' axially inwardly extending lip members 32- which are so spacedy and are oi such length that they may be aligned with., for

interlocking co-engagement the respective Wheel openings lb. As best showny in-Figure 2,

whenv the coverl 2d is disposed upon the wheely structure the lips 32 extend into the wheel openings and lieinsurface' abutment with a portion of' 'the radially outer surface of the depressed parts of the flange ida ofthe wheel body part l2, thusmaintaining the cover in concentricv alignment withthe wheelI andl against radial and circumferential shit-ting` thereofrelative toy the wheel. This position of the cover ismaintained' by the resilient spring clips 25, theA terminalv fingers Sil of which bear against the adjacent portionoi; the cover 2li and hold the same resiliently against the wheel structure.

Inapplying the cover member 2li tothe wheel it is merely necessary to flex the-lips y32' radially inwardly a slight degree so that theypass radially inwardly of each oi" the spring clips 25', whereupon axially-inward movement of the entire cover member'disposes the lips 32' in the position shown in Figure 2 withy the terminal` ngers lil]v of the spring clips bearing resiliently against the adjacent portion of the'cover to hold the same against the surface oi they body part l2.

In removing the cover member 2d' from thev wheel structure it will be seen that itis merely necessary for the operator to grasp the-projecting fla-nge 2day at the radially outer part of the cover with the-fingers and to exert an axially outward pull thereon, whereupon the spring clip'members 25 are flexed radially outwardly andthe l'ipmembers 32` flex slightly radially inwardly to afford' passage of the lips 32 axially outwardly beyond the clip members. Furthermore, it will be seen that whenthe assembly is arrangedv as shown in` Figure 2, the radially inner part of the synthetic plastic cover member 2d' extends between the metallic clips '25 and the outer surface of the metallic body part ll, thereby' to cushion these parts against development of vibration and rattle during use.

It will also be understood that removal of the central circular hub cap simulating cover member 2U which is preferably constructed from thin sheet metal, may be accomplished by the insertion of a pry-off tool between the radially outer extremity thereof and the adjacent portion of the outer surface of the central load bearing part I2, whereupon the bead 22 is distorted into an out of round con-dition to permit axial outward passage of the bead 22 over the respective humps 23.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided herein a cover assembly for disposition over the outer side of a wheel structure, said cover assembly including a radially outer annular portion constructed from sheet synthetic plastic material or the like and having physical characteristics enabling it to be flexed locally, temporarily and whereby it will immediately snap back into initial configuration after the flexing pressures are relieved therefrom, said cover part being provided at the radially inner portion thereof with improved wheel engaging means including generally axially inwardly extending, circumferentially spaced lip portions formed integrally therewith, said lip portions being arranged to extend into openings in a wheel structure with which the cover is associated to concentrically align the cover therewith and to retain the same thereon against radial and circumferential slippage, there being resilient clip members on the wheel structure for bearing against the outer side of said lip portions tot maintain the same in assembled relationship with the wheel. These lips also serve as a resilient cushion between the retaining members and the metallic wheel body. Furthermore there is provided herein a cover assembly having a radially outer part extending radially outwardly beyond the edge portion of the tire rim of a wheel structure with which it is associated to conceal the junction between the tire rim and a tire therein and having an intermediate portion of such a cross-section that it substantially simulates the side wall of a tire in the tire rim thereby to give the appearance of being a continuation thereof and a part thereof and to give the appearance of being a white side wall of the tire when colored white.

It will be understood that since the wheel cover embodying my invention is formed from synthetic plastic sheet material that it is of considerably less weight than the heretofore utilized metallic covers and thus greatly reduces the unsprung weight of a vehicle with which it is associated.

What I claim is;

1. In a wheel structure having a tire rim part and a central load bearing part, there being circumferentially spaced openings disposed around the junction between lthe wheel parts, a cover including a radially outer annular part constructed from synthetic plastic material having physical characteristics enabling it to be selfsupporting as to form and yet resiliently flexible so that it snaps back to its initial position when iiexing pressures are released therefrom, said cover having a cross-sectional expanse of a size tc enable it to extend over the outer side of the tire rim to conceal the same and radially inwardly to the vicinity of the junction between the tire rim and the central load bearing part, retaining means on the wheel structure for engaging the radially inner part of said cover to detachably secure the same to the wheel structure, said cover having at the radially inner edge thereof a iiange arranged for surface abutment with thevadjacent portion of the outer surface of the wheel structure, said flange terminating in a plurality of generally axially inwardly extending lips circumferentialy spaced, and of such length thatthey are aligned with and fit snugly into the wheel openings to retain the cover over the wheel structure in concentric alignment therewith and against circumferential orV radial slippage.

2. In a cover assembly for a'wlheel having a plurality of circumferentially arranged apertures, spring xmeans disposed in said apertures, an annular cover member for disposition over the outer side of the wheel, said cover member being formed from resiliently flexible, plastic sheet material and having characteristics enabling it to be locally distorted yet whereby it will return to Iits initial configuration when distorting lpressures lare relieved therefrom and having integral, substantially axially inwardly extending lip parts at the inner margin thereof, said lip parts being -disposed in respective apertures in the wheel to hold the cover against yrotation relative -to the wheel and also in hold-on relation to the spring clips, said clips engaging lthe lip parts to detachably maintain the cover against axial movement relative to the wheel and to anchor the respective inner portion of the cover during exure of the adjacent outer portion thereof to render the rear side of the cover accessible.

3. In a cover assembly for a wheel having outer and central parts -with spring means bearing toward the outer side of the central part thereof and having a plurality of circumferentially 'aligned apertures therein With which the spring means Aare aligned, a circular cover member for disposition over the outer side of the wheel, said cover member being formed from sheet synthetic plastic material and h-aving characteristics en- Iabling it to Ibe locally distorted yet whereby it will return to its initial configuration when distorting pressures are relieved therefrom, and having at an inner part thereof, in substantial alignment with said apertures and said spring means, a plurality of lip parts extending substantially axially inwardly into respective apertures to maintain the cover member against rotative movement rela/tive to the wheel, and into snap-on engagement with the spring means, said spring means engaging the respective lip parts to detachably Imaintain the inner .part of the cover member .against axial movement relative to the Wheel.

44. In combination in a vehicle w-h'eel structure of the character described, a tire rim, an inner load bearing structure supporting said rim, a circular cover member dimensioned to lie in concealing relation to said rim and extending radially inwardly into engagement with said load bearing, structure adjacent to Ithe juncture of the latter with the rim, and retaining `clips mounted at said juncture and extending toward engagement with said load bearing structure, -said cover member having portions thereof interposed separably between said retaining clips and said load bearing structure and being ith-us held Ibetween the clips and 4the respective contiguous portions of the load .bearing structure.

5. A wheel structure of the character described including a tire rim of the drop cen-ter type and -a central load bear-ing portion secured thereto, said rim and said load bearing portion from, said `cover member having a plurality of 10 Number integral, generally axially `inwardly extending fllanges `at -th-e radially inner part thereof, said flanges being :arranged to extend into the respective apertures'toloear radially against the load lbearing portion of the wheel for alignment 15 of the ycoverlootli radially and lcircumferentially relativeto the Wheel, said spring clips being ar- .K 8 ranged to engage `saiol flanges and press the same detachably against said load bearing part.

GEORGE' ALBERT LYON.

REFERENCES CIT-ED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,234,387 Pugh et al July 24, 1917 1,743,074 Roth Jlan. 7, 1930 2,212,039 Lyon Aug. 20, 1940 2,279,331 Lyon Apr. 14, 1942 2,279,794 Davenport Apr. 14, 1942 2,333,626 .A-ske 1 Nov. 9, 1943 

